Remembering Mets History (2006) Mets Sweep the L.A. Dodgers Three Straight In the NLDS

Willie Randolph's 2006 New York Mets were in first place almost the entire season. They had won 97 games (97-65) finishing 12 games up on the Philadelphia Phillies.

The Mets potent offense was led by David Wright (26 HRs 116 RBIs .311 batting average) along with sluggers Carlos Beltran (41 HRs 116 RBIs) & Carlos Delgado (38 HRs 114 RBIs).

Jose Reyes led the league in stolen bases (64) & triples (17) while hitting .300 with 19 HRs & 81 RBIs. Veteran Jose Valentin surprised everyone with 18 HRs /62 RBIs & catcher Paul LoDuca batted .318.

But the Mets entered the post season with a depleted pitching staff.  Their top starter Pedro
Martinez (9-8 / 4.48 ERA) had his arm in a sling & was with an injury. Orlando Hernandez (9-7 / 4.09 ERA) went down in a pre-game work out & was also going to miss the post season. 

But New York still had their pair of 15 game winners, future Hall of Famer Tom Glavine (15-7 / 3.82 ERA) & veteran Steve Trachsel (15-8 / 4.97 ERA. 

The solid bullpen was led by another future Hall of Famer, closer Billy Wagner (40 saves / 2.24 ERA).

The Dodgers led by manager Grady Little had finished in a first-place tie with San Diego Padres (88-74). The offense was led by J.D. Drew (20 HRs 100 RBIs) & Nomar Garciaparra (20 HRs 93 RBIs .303 Ave) Andre Ethier, Rafael Furcal & Kenny Lofton all batted over .300.

The Dodger staff was led by a pair of league leading 16 game winners Derek Lowe 916-8 / 3.63 ERA) & Brad Penny (16-9 / 4.33 ERA). Takashi Saito notched 24 saves, with a 2.07 ERA.

Wednesday October 4th, 2006: 2006 NLCS Game #1- Shea Stadium New York: The NLDS opened up at Shea Stadium with a revved-up crowd of 56,979. Singer Mark Anthony sang the National Anthem & 1969 Mets World Series star Jerry Koosman who was 2-0 in that series threw out the ceremonial first pitch.

After a scoreless 1st inning, things got exciting in the 2nd inning.

In the top of the 2nd, Jeff Kent & J.D. Drew started the inning with base hits. The next batter Russel Martin hit a liner off the right field wall, Sean Green picked up the ball & fired a perfect throw to cut off man Jose Valentin who fired a perfect throw home to catcher Paul LoDuca. 

Loduca put the tag on Jeff Kent trying to score & then J.D. Drew who was right behind him trying to score. It was a very bizarre double play scored 7-4-2-2. Marlon Anderson followed with an RBI double scoring Martin with the game's first run. Wilson Betemit was walked to get to the pitcher Derek Lowe who Maine struck out to end what could have been a disaster of an inning.

In the home 4th, the Mets got a pair of solo HRs off pitcher, from Carlos Delgado & Cliff Floyd to the delight of the Shea Faithful, giving the Mets a 2-1 lead.

John Maine got thru 4.1 innings allowing a run on six hits, striking out five while walking two. Pedro Feliciano & Chad Bradford closed out the 5th inning.

In the top of the 6th, Mets reliever Guillermo Mota, had an easy inning of relief, including striking out JD Drew & Russell Martin.

In the bottom of the 6th, Paul Loduca & Carlos Delgado collected base hits off Lowe. David Wright then drove a two run double to right field scoring LoDuca & Delgado giving the Mets a 4-1 lead. 

It was enough to remove Derek Lowe as he gave up four runs on six hits, two walks & struck out six.

In the top of the 7th, Gillermo Mota ran into trouble as Marlon Anderson singled, then Wilson Betemit reached on a throwing error by Jose Valentin on a fielder's choice at second. After striking out Julio Lugo, Mota gave up an RBI single to Rafael Furcal. Then Nomar Garciaparra doubled to left field bringing home both Betemit & Furcal to tie up the game.

In the bottom of the 7th inning, Dodger reliever Brad Penny walked Jose Reyes to start the inning. The NL's stolen base leader that year, Reyes then stole second. 

Multi- HIT / Multi- RBI Game: After Paul LoDuca flew out, Carlos Beltran drew a walk. Carlos Delgado then singled to left field, collecting his fourth hit of the game, scoring Reyes putting the Mets ahead for good 5-4. 

David Wright who led the club with 40 doubles on the season, followed with his second hit of the game, a double to right field, scoring Beltran putting New York ahead 6-4. Wright had himself a multi-three RBI game & Carlos Delgado a multi-two RBI game.

In the 9th, a shaky Billy Wagner gave up a double to Wilson Betemit to start the inning. Wagner retired the next two batters then pinch hitter Ramon Martinez doubled to right field bringing home Betemit making it 6-5.

With Martinez on second representing the tying run Wagner struck out Nomar Garciaparra to end the game, the Mets won it 6-5, to go up 1-0 in the NLDS.

Thursday October 5th, 2006: NLCS Game #2- Shea Stadium New York:  Shea was filled with excitement for the second game, with the Mets up one game in the best of three series. centerfieldmaz was in attendance with 57,029 fans for Game #2.

Legendary Mets broadcaster Ralph Kiner threw out the ceremonial first pitch, getting a big ovation from the crowd. The former NL HR leader, Ralph Kiner had been with the Mets broadcast team since day one of team history, in 1962.

Tonight for New York Tom Glavine started his first post season game in a Mets uniform. In 11 post season appearances with the Braves Glavine had pitched in 32 games going 12-15 with a 3.44 ERA. He had lost his last three post season starts giving up 16 runs in 12.2 innings back in 2002 & 2001.

Glavine went up against the Dodgers Hung Chi Kuo (1-5 / 4.22 ERA).

In the first two innings, Glavine & Kuo held their opponents scoreless.

In the home 3rd, Endy Chavez reached on a comebacker to the mound, he then advanced to second on a wild pitch. Tom Glavine's little fielder's choice advanced Chavez to third, he then scored the Mets first run- small ball style, on Jose Reyes' ground out to short.

In the top of the 4th, Tom Glavine had two men on with one out but struck out J.D. Drew & got Russel Martin to fly out. In the top of the 5th, the Dodgers got two more runners on, but Kenny Lofton grounded out to end the inning.

In the bottom of the 5th, Jose Valentin walked & Endy Chavez singled with his second hit of the
game. Tom Glavine sacrificed both runners over & then Jose Reyes was walked to load the bases. Grady Little removed his starter & Bret Tomko came on for relief for the Dodgers. 

Paul LoDuca then hit a sac fly to left field, giving New York it's second run 2-0.

Tom Glavine gave the Mets six scoreless innings, allowing four hits walking & striking out two putting in his best post season appearance in five years.

In the bottom of the 6th, David Wright & Cliff Floyd started the inning with base hits. Jose Valentin then reached on Brett Tomko throwing error on a Jose Valentin's bunt attempt.

Tomko was removed as Mark Hendrickson was brought in. He picked up Endy Chavez grounder & got the force out at home. Mets Pinch hitter, the veteran Julio Franco, who was the oldest player in the game at 48 years old, grounded out to short stop, scoring Cliff Floyd making it a 3-0 Mets lead. Jose Reyes collected his first hit of the series, a single scoring Jose Valentin, making it 4-1 Mets.

In the top of the 7th, Pedro Feliciano gave the Mets a scoreless inning. In the top of the 8th, Wilson Betemit hit a solo HR off reliever Aaron Heilman the first of two post season HRs he would give up with the second being the most crucial.

In the top of the 9th, Billy Wagner came on to close it out with an easy inning.  The Mets took the 4-1 victory & went up a commanding two games to none in the series. Tom Glavine collected his first post season win since 2001 & Billy Wagner collected his second save in as many games. It was off to sunny Los Angeles for Game #3 at Dodger Stadium.

Saturday October 7th, 2006: NLCS Game #3: Dodger Stadium- Los Angeles, California: 

As the series moved west to California, the Game #3 starters were Steve Trachsel for the Mets against the Dodgers Greg Maddux. 

Trachsel was in his sixth & final season with the Mets, having won 15 games (15-8) second most wins in the league, although he posted a 4.97 ERA. Earlier in the season, he had been taken out of the rotation & the team considered trading him. This was Steve's first post season start.

His opponent Greg Maddux was of course no stranger to the post season. The 40-year-old veteran future Hall of Famer Maddux was in his 20th season; he had pitched in 11 previous post seasons with the Cubs (1) & Braves (10) going 11-14 with a save & a 3.22 ERA.

In the top of the 1st inning, the Mets jumped on Greg Maddux right away. With one out Paul LoDuca drew a walk. 

Next, five straight singles the first two from Carlos Beltran & Carlos Delgado, followed by RBI singles from David Wright, Cliff Floyd & Shawn Green led to a 3-0 Mets lead.

In the bottom of the 3rd, Cliff Floyd singled with two outs, then Shawn Green's double scored Floyd giving the Mets a 4-1 lead. Floyd injured himself on the slide & was replaced by Endy Chavez.

After the game Floyd said he was upset not being on the field for the celebration due to the injury.

Quotes- Cliff Floyd: " That was sad but then they came in & gave me a big hug, that made it all better'.

After three scoreless innings, Steve Trachsel wouldn't get out of the 4th inning. In the top of the 4th, he gave up three straight singles loading the bases for James Loney who delivered a two-run single narrowing the Mets lead 4-2. 

Mets manager Willie Randolph was not going to wait for anymore, he took out Trachsel bringing in Darren Oliver who ended the inning.

In the bottom of the 5th inning, Marlon Anderson reached on a two out single then Darrin Oliver served up a two run HR to Jeff Kent tying up the game. 

Chad Bradford came on running into his own troubles, giving up a base hit to Russel Martin & then walking Wilson Betemit to load the bases.

Willie Randolph went to his fourth pitcher bringing in Pedro Feliciano. Pedro brought in the next run, walking James Loney with the bases loaded to put the Dodgers ahead 5-4. Nomar Garciaparra grounded to Feliciano to end the inning.

In the top of the 6th, the Mets came right off reliver Jonathan Broxton. Shawn Green doubled with his second hit of the game. The former Dodger Green, who spent five years in Los Angeles had cmmented about playing his old team.

Quotes- Shawn Green: "I'd be lying if I said this didn't mean more".

Pinch hitter Michael Tucker drew a walk. Then three straight RBI singles from Jose Reyes, Paul LoDuca & Carlos Beltran made it a 7-5 Mets lead. 

In the top of the 8th, the Mets got to reliever Brett Tomko for two more runs. Pinch hitter Chris Woodward doubled to left field. Paul LoDuca collected his fifth hit of the series, second to Carlos Delgado's six hits scoring Woodward with the Mets eighth run.

After Carlos Beltran walked, Carlos Delgado reached on a fielder's choice & Wilson Betemit's throwing error which allowed Paul LoDuca to score the Mets ninth run, making it 9-5.

In the top of the 8th, Aaron Heilman gave up two base hits but got out of the inning when J.D. Drew grounded to Carlos Delgado at first to end the inning. 

In the top of the 9th, Billy Wagner struck out Russel Martin & Wilson Betemit to start the inning.

After a base hit to James Loney, Wagner closed out the game getting Ramon Martinez to fly out to Shawn Green in foul territory in right field.

The Mets won the game 9-5 clinching the series sweep & advancing to their first NLCS in six years. Pedro Feliciano took the victory & Jonathan Broxton the loss.

It was onto the Midwest to meet an old rival, the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium.

Stats: In the NLDS, Carlos Delgado led the Mets with six hits & David Wright led with four RBIs. Carlos Beltran posted a .500 on base % with two hits & five walks, he also added an RBI. Tom Glavine collected a win as did relievers Guillermo Mota & Pedro Feliciano, who appeared in all three games pitching 1.2 scoreless innings.